The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to promote infrastructure resilience as a critical component of disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable development.
She made the statement in Abuja during the formal launch of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) membership in the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), describing the development as a strategic milestone that strengthens regional and global collaboration toward building infrastructure systems capable of withstanding disaster and climate risks.
She noted that the increasing frequency and intensity of hazards such as floods, droughts, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events across West Africa underscore the urgent need for proactive investments in resilient infrastructure, strengthened technical cooperation, and risk-informed planning.
The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Abhishek Singh, noted that the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure was established to promote international cooperation in strengthening infrastructure systems to withstand disaster risks and safeguard lives, livelihoods, and economic investments.
Similarly, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, underscored the importance of regional collaboration, noting that ECOWAS’ membership in the coalition will enhance collective capacity to anticipate, withstand, and recover from disasters while promoting sustainable development.
The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a global partnership of governments, international organizations, and stakeholders dedicated to advancing resilient infrastructure as a cornerstone of disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and sustainable development.
17th February, 2026
